“Puget Sound is home to countless species, including orcas, sea lions, salmon and shellfish,” said Harold Smelt, Pierce County Public Works and Utilities surface water manager. “There is so much to discover if you look below the surface. This event offers fun ways to learn about the Puget Sound while finding out what each of us can do to protect it.”

Activities include a live reptile exhibit, a clean boating workshop, arts and crafts, songs, and games. Attendees will learn about marine animals, watersheds, composting with live worms, composting, recycling and more. Free organic snacks will be available.

This event is partnership between public agencies and non-profit organizations, including: Pierce County Public Works and Utilities, Citizens for a Healthy Bay, Harbor Wildwatch, Kitsap and Pierce conservation districts, Kitsap and Tacoma-Pierce County health departments, Shellfish Partners, Puget Creek Restoration Society, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, Sea Scouts, Taylor Shellfish Farms, Washington Sea Grant, WSU Kitsap Extension, YMCA Camp Seymour and more. Support for this event has been provided by the Washington State Department of Ecology through the Centennial Clean Water Fund.

Puget Sound, which is the second largest estuary in the nation, covers over 1.6 million acres and has 2,500 miles of shoreline. Approximately 4.5 million people live, work and play in the 12 counties it touches.